Apple introduces iPod Photo, U2 iPod Special Edition

During its Special Music Event today, Apple introduced a color iPod with photo …

As we speculated a couple of weeks ago, Apple today introduced the iPod Photo. Coming in 40GB and 60GB models priced at US$499 and US$599 respectively, the iPod Photo sports a 2-inch 220x176 16-bit color display. It also includes an A/V cable to connect it to a TV or projector in order to display slideshows. Both Mac and Windows users will be able to manage and sync the iPod Photo library via iTunes 4.7, which will allow users to import images directly from any directory on a PC or Mac. Users will also be able to import libraries from Adobe Album 2.0 or Adobe Elements 3.0 on the PC or via iPhoto on the Mac. Battery life is improved over previous iPod versions as well, with Apple claiming up to 15 hours for music or 5 hours for slideshows with music. According to Apple, the iPod Photo is available immediately, although the Apple Store shows a 1-2 week wait.

As expected, Apple also today introduced its U2 iPod Special Edition. The black 20GB iPod has a red click wheel and autographs of the band members etched into the back side. The US$349 music player (available in mid-November) will also come with an "exclusive" U2 poster and a gift certificate for US$50 off The Complete U2. Priced at US$150, The Complete U2 is being marketed as a "digital boxed set" (like a regular boxed set except without the box, CDs, and inserts, I guess) containing U2's entire library from Boy to the upcoming How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb plus another 25 "rare and unreleased tracks." The set will also mean that the entirety of U2's library will be available on iTMS for the first time. Some tracks from Zooropa and Pop are not currently available.

In addition, the iTunes Music Store continues its march across Europe, as Apple today opened what it calls its European Union iTunes Music Store. The countries included in the latest round of expansion are Austria, Belgium, Finland, Greece, Italy, Luxemborg, Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain. Pricing remains at €0.99 per track in the new countries. In addition, Apple has announced plans for a Canadian launch of iTMS in November.

Speculation had been mounting that Apple would update the Mini with a larger hard drive as well. However, the Mini and its 4GB capacity was left untouched during today's event. Some analysts (not to mention Mac rumor sites) expect cheaper flash versions of the iPod to be made available. If that were the case, those would likely have been unveiled today, as introducing them after the holiday shopping season does not make much sense.

With the expansion of iTMS into much of Western Europe as well as the upcoming Canadian store, Apple has solidified its position as the number one online music store, both in terms of market share and geographic reach.

Now that the iPod has a color display, will you be able to watch video on it? Steve Jobs says no:

"No one has any video content to put on them, and even if they did, the screens are much too small," Jobs said, adding that the iPod is the "wrong place" for video.

So all the pieces are in place for video capability, but Apple's vision for the digital hub doesn't include watching TV.